News:
April 17, 2026
Rochester Astronomy Club
  • Home
  • Events Calendar
  • Resources
    • Library Telescope
    • What to expect at RAC Night Sky Viewing Events
  • Observing Conditions
  • Contact Us
  • The Club
    • Join or Renew
    • Registration
    • New Member Guide
    • Club Newsletters
    • Outreach
    • Contribute
    • Bylaws
      • For Members
    • Members Pages
      • Mike Carlin
      • Josef Chlachula
      • John Martin
    • Officers
    • Activity
    • Log In
  • Forum
    • Forum Access Request
    • Forum
HomeActivity

Activity

  • All Members 47
  • RSS
  • Profile picture of Macastronomer

    Macastronomer replied to the topic 2024 Observing in the forum General Discussion 1 year, 7 months ago

    Anybody observing anywhere on Friday? It looks like it’s going to be “Glorious!”

  • Profile picture of Macastronomer

    Macastronomer replied to the topic Observing tonight? in the forum General Discussion 1 year, 7 months ago

    Thanks Yosef.

  • Profile picture of Josef Chlachula

    Josef Chlachula replied to the topic Observing tonight? in the forum General Discussion 1 year, 7 months ago

    Duane, I’m planning on coming to the park Wednesday night to turn off the lights for the night. Josef

  • Profile picture of Macastronomer

    Macastronomer started the topic 2024 Observing in the forum General Discussion 1 year, 7 months ago

    It’s looking good for Wednesday night. I’m thinking about taking Thursday morning off so I can stay up late and observe.

    Anybody care to join me at Root River Park… or somewhere else?

    Duane

    PS. I posted this in the old observing thread as well. I thought it was time to start a new observing thread.

  • Profile picture of Macastronomer

    Macastronomer replied to the topic Observing tonight? in the forum General Discussion 1 year, 7 months ago

    It’s looking good for Wednesday night. I’m thinking about taking Thursday morning off so I can stay up late and observe.

    Anybody care to join me at Root River Park… or somewhere else?

    Duane

    PS. I’m going to start a new thread and place this there too. 175 pages of posts is probably enough. 🙂

  • Profile picture of Nova matzke

    Nova matzke replied to the topic Observing tonight? in the forum General Discussion 1 year, 7 months ago

    I’m at root river park rn a little bit of clouds right now but according to a app I got in about 1-1.5 hour it should hopefully clear up

  • Profile picture of Nova matzke

    Nova matzke replied to the topic NexStar 8SE 8" SC and accessories in the forum Classifieds 1 year, 8 months ago

    Just wondering if any one has any extra spoterr scopes for sale I need to get a new one for my telescope  willing to pay up to 70 for that

  • Profile picture of Josef Chlachula

    Josef Chlachula replied to the topic Observing tonight? in the forum General Discussion 1 year, 8 months ago

    JUICE Live from the Moon now 8/19 from 4:30 PM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoodtR-46Ms

  • Profile picture of Nova matzke

    Nova matzke became a registered member 1 year, 8 months ago

    Nova matzke

    @novam89

    View Profile
  • Profile picture of Josef Chlachula

    Josef Chlachula replied to the topic Observing tonight? in the forum General Discussion 1 year, 8 months ago

    I had just stepped outside and through my eclipsed sunglasses saw for the first time in my life with my naked eyes two sunspots on the Sun. The sunspot on the bottom right is 3780 and on the top left is 3784. Each sunspot could be six times bigger than Earth.

  • Profile picture of fealeybob14

    fealeybob14 replied to the topic Observing tonight? in the forum General Discussion 1 year, 8 months ago

    Tonight we may be treated to both Perseid meteors and a geomagnetic storm with aurora.  I say “may” because both are a half day or so past peak.

  • Profile picture of Macastronomer

    Macastronomer replied to the topic Observing tonight? in the forum General Discussion 1 year, 8 months ago

    Thanks for the news from Gameheaven and the sun pic.

    I went out last night to image T Cor Bor, and I took a shot of the Milky Way while I had the setup aligned. When I want to get out from under the bright part of the Rochester Dome I head to 23 St. NE. It’s little dead-end road off of county rd 11.  The sky is faded to the East and straight…[Read more]

  • Profile picture of Josef Chlachula

    Josef Chlachula replied to the topic Observing tonight? in the forum General Discussion 1 year, 8 months ago

    I just went outside, put on my eclipse sunglasses and looked with the naked eye and checked a big sunspot. It rotated and one dot of the big sun spot it is still visible. Here is SDO image made smaller so it looks almost like by naked eye

  • Profile picture of Josef Chlachula

    Josef Chlachula replied to the topic Observing tonight? in the forum General Discussion 1 year, 8 months ago

    Good news from Gameheaven. At the same time, we (Jeff, Mike Q and I) were able to observe round Venus low over the western horizon from Watson from about 8:40 to 9pm. In binoculars, Dobson and with the naked eye.

    About 10 visitors came later. Also two astronomy and physics students, I think from MN State University Moorhead, Emily is from…[Read more]

  • Profile picture of fealeybob14

    fealeybob14 replied to the topic Observing tonight? in the forum General Discussion 1 year, 8 months ago

    The Gamehaven Summer Camp outing was well attended by scouts and staff, the latter very accommodating to RAC members.  Lights were off and the camp director’s plan for the activity was just right.  RAC members were given a Gamehaven Summer Camp 2024 patch at the end.  The patch appears in the attached figure, a dark sky meter recording below (t…[Read more]

  • Profile picture of Macastronomer

    Macastronomer replied to the topic Orion website, telescope.com in the forum General Discussion 1 year, 8 months ago

    If you want a crazy bright laser… the one that I bought on Amazon that disappeared was listed as this:

    UNBIU Long Range Laser Pointer High Power – Green Laser Pointer Flashlight with Adjustable Focus for Night Astronomy, Outdoor Camping, Hunting, and Hiking – USB Charging

    It was only $13. But like I said, I basically treat it like a gun. I…[Read more]

  • Profile picture of Colin Graves

    Colin Graves replied to the topic Orion website, telescope.com in the forum General Discussion 1 year, 8 months ago

    Thanks again for all the great info, I actually just ordered a zbolt green laser pointer,

    not the exact one you mentioned. I really like my Orion skyline deluxe green laser pointer,

    and I’ll let you know how the z-bolt compares, hopefully the friend I’m getting it for will like it.

    Colin

  • Profile picture of Macastronomer

    Macastronomer replied to the topic Orion website, telescope.com in the forum General Discussion 1 year, 8 months ago

    I posted to this thread yesterday, and my comment is not here today. This site is very frustrating. I’ll do it over again.

    My favorite pointer is:

    https://www.opticsplanet.com/z-bolt-military-pride-green-laser-briefing-pointer.html

    I don’t know if you can get it as a non-military pride version or not.

    What I like about it is that it has a…[Read more]

  • Profile picture of Randy H

    Randy H replied to the topic Orion website, telescope.com in the forum General Discussion 1 year, 8 months ago

    I think any of the <$20 options on Amazon are decent options. I’ve been ordering more of the rechargeable types. So far they seem to work OK.

    For e…[Read more]

  • Profile picture of Colin Graves

    Colin Graves replied to the topic Orion website, telescope.com in the forum General Discussion 1 year, 8 months ago

    Thanks for the info all.

    We haven’t seen a charge on our credit card, so thinking I’ll be okay.

    Any suggestions for an alternate green laser pointer?

    Colin

  • Load More

Upcoming Events

Apr
24
Fri
8:00 pm Public Sky Observing 2026-04/24 @ Salem Glen Winery
Public Sky Observing 2026-04/24 @ Salem Glen Winery
Apr 24 @ 8:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Public Sky Observing 2026-04/24 @ Salem Glen Winery | Rochester | Minnesota | United States
Visitors have the option to reserve a pizza on the website https://www.salemglenvineyard.com/pizza_res/pizza_res2.php , wood-fire pizza is served from 4:30 PM till 7:30 PM. Wonders of the Spring sky Presentation by Robert Fealey This presentation offers a comprehensive guide to the Spring sky, transitioning from the brilliant stars of winter to the “Great Diamond” of the vernal season. It highlights key [...]
May
12
Tue
7:00 pm RAC Monthly Meeting May 2026 @ RCTC Room EA103 (use the southeastern entrance to RCTC.)
RAC Monthly Meeting May 2026 @ RCTC Room EA103 (use the southeastern entrance to RCTC.)
May 12 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Please come to the Rochester Astronomy Club monthly meetings! These meetings are free and open to the public. Each month we will try to bring you a different presentation and share observing notes and tips. Agenda will be published on the Sunday before the meeting. We are offering these meetings in a hybrid fashion, you can attend either in person [...]
Jun
9
Tue
7:00 pm RAC Monthly Meeting June 2026 @ RCTC Room EA103 (use the southeastern entrance to RCTC.)
RAC Monthly Meeting June 2026 @ RCTC Room EA103 (use the southeastern entrance to RCTC.)
Jun 9 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Please come to the Rochester Astronomy Club monthly meetings! These meetings are free and open to the public. Each month we will try to bring you a different presentation and share observing notes and tips. Agenda will be published on the Sunday before the meeting. We are offering these meetings in a hybrid fashion, you can attend either in person [...]
View Calendar

Quick Links

  • NCRAL 2025 Conference
  • NCRAL Website
  • New Member Guide
  • Join our Email list
  • Join the Club
  • Connect with Us
  • What to expect at Night Sky Viewing events
  • List of articles

Recent Articles

  • Test Post
  • Observing Alpha Centauri from Fort Myers Beach
  • The Story of the Universe in 100 stars
  • Observe Titan shadow transits
  • Sun at RochesterFest

Recent Forum Topics

  • 2026 Meeting Minutes
  • OCTOBER Star Party Misfire
  • News from Dean Johnson Memorial field
  • Orionids
  • Comet Lemmon 2025

Members Blog

  • Test Post
  • Observing Alpha Centauri from Fort Myers Beach
  • The Story of the Universe in 100 stars
  • Sun at RochesterFest
  • Hubble’s challenge to Josef after 35 years

Donate

Help support the club with a donation


Search

Copyright © 2023 | Rochester Astronomy Club | A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization

Skip to toolbar
  • About WordPress
    • WordPress.org
    • Documentation
    • Learn WordPress
    • Support
    • Feedback
  • Log In